NEW YORK -- Global manufacturing is on the rise, according to a series of indices from around the world, although forecasters aren't yet calling an end to the recession threat.

SAN JOSE -- Flextronics has promoted Murad Kurwa to vice president of engineering – worldwide operations.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai) is gearing up to begin volume production at five new plants in Brazil, according to reports.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board shipments in December decreased 5.1% year-over-year, and orders fell 2.8%, says IPC.

PECS, HUNGARY -- Flextronics will add several hundred workers at its assembly plant to fill new orders from Huawei, according to published reports.

ATLANTA, GA – UP Media Group Inc. today announced Phil Zarrow will moderate the industry’s second “chat,” an open question/answer session using pioneering new software developed by UPMG.

RICHARDSON, TX ― EMS firm ACD today said sales rose 21% year-over-year in 2011, making it the most successful in the company’s 27-year history.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works today reported fourth-quarter revenues for its Power Systems and Electronics segment increased 16%, despite an aggregate 7.7% drop in revenues for its electronics businesses.

FAIRFAX, VA -- The US Navy has awarded ManTech International a $91 million task order to provide communications technology and engineering services. The task order was awarded under the SeaPort Enhanced contract; it has a one-year base period of performance with four option years.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC’s biennial wage and salary survey for the EMS industry shows a cautious uptick in salary increases in 2011, compared to 2009, the firm says.

WASHINGTON -- New orders for manufactured durable goods in the US increased 3% to $214.5 billion in December on strong demand for new aircraft.